BIO

Known to tropical music fans around the world as El Caballero de la Salsa (The Gentleman of Salsa), Puerto Rican salsa singer Gilberto Santa Rosa is an impressive sonero who has gained worldwide recognition for a career spanning over 10 years.

As the history of Caribbean dance popular music goes, his music became the bridge between two eras of the salsa genre. On the one hand, Santa Rosa is the heir of a rich tradition of salsa singers who came of age throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. On the other, his impeccable taste has allowed him to experiment with new musical forms since the mid - 1980’s. No one doubts this a true master of swing, elegance and heartfelt singing.

Santa Rosa became aware of his talent for music when he was a child growing up in his native Carolina, a bustling Puerto Rican city in the metropolitan area of the capital of San Juan. He grew up listening to the venerable orchestra El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico and started honing his skills to perfect his singing.

Later on he became a sort of artistic hero while still in elementary school, even turning into a comedic actor. He studied music --choosing trumpet and saxophone-- in the famed Escuela Libre de Música de San Juan, an academic powerhouse that has produced the likes of many jazz musicians and salsa singers.

But singing has always been his true passion; something he has turned into an exquisite art to create timeless music.

It was during this time that Gilberto obtained his first artist appearance during a Christmas Special produced by Papo Pérez. The special was broadcasted via Channel 11 network on January 6, 1975. Little Gilberto made his debut by singing the theme song “Los Reyes Modernucos” on the program.

A different future was now perceived and Santa Rosa contemplated the thought of becoming an artist. He created his first group with longtime friend Pedro Morales Cortijo (“Don Periñón) at the early age of 13. The group was initially called La Evolución 65 and later became Orquestra La Potencia. They played at local parties and constructed a major repertoire of songs that were not heard on the radio.

His first mayor breakthrough came during the “Festival de la Juventud” which was organized by San Juan’s Municipality at the famous “El Morro” and was hosted by comedian Alberto Rodríguez Torres (“Machuchal”). Santa Rosa dazzled the audience while Torres set precedence in the young artist’s musical career.

By 1976 Orquestra La Potencia dissolved paving a new road in the life of young Gilberto.

Renowned as one of the most promising talents in popular music, in 1977 Gilberto Santa Rosa was recruited by veteran Mario Ortiz to participate in the recording of “Borinquen Flame”, interpreting the songs “Palo de caña brava”, “Los rosales” and “Regálame tu amor”. Famed artists participating in that album included Elías López, Juancito Torres, Polito Huertas, Eladio Pérez, Tony Sánchez, Mauricio González, Rafi Torres and René Hernández.

Following this release, which did not meet expectations, the young vocalist accepted an invitation from La Grande Orquestra Director, José Canales to form part of his group. Prior to that Santa Rosa had been persuaded by Latin Brass’s director to replace their lead singer, Jerry Rivas, but his parents did not allow him to.

His admission to La Grande – at that time directed by trompet player Elías Lópes – was accompanied by a proposal to participate in the recording of an album. The date was in New York where the tracks “Busca lo tuyo”, “Satisfacción” and “Tu indiferencia” (written by Santa Rosa) were recorded for “We Love New York”.

Gilberto Santa Rosa’s participation with La Grande lasted two years and from the onset media labeled him “musical revelation of the year”. In the interim he recorded jingles for firms Sello Rojo, Budweiser and Bore Warner alternated his time.

Simultaneously, Santa Rosa participated in groups Don Periñon and Manolito Rodriguez’s Orquestra Fantasía Boricua – experiences which garnered invaluable recognition by being selected as part of Puerto Rico Salsa All Stars.

1979 marked an important era in Santa Rosa’s professional development; he was chosen by maestro Tommy Olivencia to form part of La Primerísima Orquestra.

His first appearances with Tommy Olivencia were casual – substitutions for Simón Madera but his excellent participation won him the offer to formally integrate the group and become a part of their new recording interpreting songs like “Como sube la gasolina” and “Rumba a los santos”.

In May, 1981 during his first year at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras, he accepted an offer from lead singer Willie Rosario to be part of his group singing alongside Bobby Concepción and Antonio Eladio “Tony” Vega.

This was to become a determining experience serving as the platform for his success as a salsero artist and gaining accolades for hits “Lluvia” and “Botaron la pelota”.

From this moment onwards, Gilberto Santa Rosa, with a more mature voice fused his style of ‘sonero’ of the suburbs and remained for over five years with the band leaving his musical imprint on six delectable releases; indisputable classic hits in popular music.

His professional restlessness though led him to pursue new artistic avenues where Santa Rosa would be able to explore his own projects. And in 1986, he opted to create his own band.

The musical sphere was at Santa Rosa’s foothold and he became the icon of traditional salsa, the protagonist of a new era that defined the future of salsa.

Gilberto Santa Rosa started off solo under the helm of Combo Records where he released “Salsa en movimiento”, “Keeping Cool”, “Good Vibrations” and “De amor y salsa”.

In 1990 his opportunities broadened after signing a major record deal with Sony Discos, label to which he still remains loyal. Fifteen record releases, multi Gold and Platinum Awards and the highest distinctions in the music industry.

Gilberto Santa Rosa’s national and international stage presence is imposing. His work shines as a true professional veteran reaffirming his artistic capacity when interpreting salsa, guarachas, mambos and ballads.

Gilberto Santa Rosa is one of the first salsa artists to bring a salsa show to the most important venue in Puerto Rico: El Centro De Bellas Artes. No salsa performer had ever been booked into that venue. Gilberto sold out every seat in the house, a feat he would repeat every year thereafter. No wonder he became the bridge between two eras of the salsa genre, fighting to maintain the authentic salsa sound alive.

At 42, the incomparable salsero revels in a more mature voice delighting audiences with his dazzling musical projections and stage performances. His artistic record of accomplishment reaffirms him as one of the most prolific masters of popular Caribbean art achieving recognition in theatre as well.

His latest release, Autentico (Authentic) portrays his passion, drive and enthusiasm in offering his fans a prodigious album, which consistently makes everyone fall in love again with one of the best voices of salsa.